eden2eve: I suggest an investment in pine-trees. They take about 45 years to mature but the return is pretty close to 10% over the life of the investment and they are relatively safe. You can lose out to a storm, pests, government problems, etc over such a long investment which is why I would suggest having two plots. Even if you lose some wood you still have the increase in land value. You also need to develop a good relationship with a forester to show you the ropes, mark trees for thinning, etc.